Awning structure



Jan. 16, 1962 s. M. CHIAL AWNING STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 9, 1958 INVENTOR. $7J4NLEV M CHI/1L 444w GAMMA A T TORNEYS United States atent O 3,016,585 AWNING STRUCTURE Stanley M. Chial, San Jose, (Ialifi, assignor to Paul A. Turner, doing business as Chial Mfg. & Sales Co. Filed Oct. 9, 1958, Ser. No. 766,261)

4 Claims. (Ci. 2i157.5)

The present invention relates to slat type awning structures, and is concerned more particularly with such structures which include a multipart frame or rail structure which lends itself readily to producing a curved end portion on the awning structure.

It is the general object to provide an improved awning structure of the above type.

Another object of the invention is to provide an awning structure of the above type in which the multiple part rails of the awning provide at the juncture of the rail parts 'a slat receiving recess similar in all respects and spacing to the slat receiving recesses along the rail parts so that a uniform appearance of the awning is provided, and uniform assembly procedure is enabled with reference to the slats.

A further object of the invention is to provide an awning structure of the above type in which an advantageous slat and slat retaining structure is provided which enables secure retention of the slats in place.

Another object of the invention is to provide an awn ing structure having a desirable cover at its outer edge to obtain an attractive and finished appearance of the awning.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be heard from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an awning as it might be placed over a window or door;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the awning structure shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view taken as indicated by the line 33 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view of the awning structure taken as indicated by the line 4-4 in FIG- URE 2.

The awning structure of the present invention includes a frame comprising a pair of similar side frame members or rails, 16 and 11 (FIGURE 2), which are made up of a plurality of rail parts including for the side frame member 11, as shown in FIGURE 1, an angle shaped rail part 12, and two strip type rail parts 13 and 14. The two side frame members or rails and 11, are joined at their upper ends by a cross angle 16, and at their lower ends by a cross channel 1'7.

The above awning structure can be mounted in any suitable fashion, either in the position shown in FIG- URE 1 or in a more inclined position with reference to the horizontal with a curved depending relation of the outer awning parts which include the side frame members or rail parts 13 and 14. Each of the rail parts 12, 13 and 14 has respective pairs of apertures 18, at spaced intervals therealong, the end-most apertures of the lower end of the rail part 12, and the end-most pair of apertures of the upper end of the rail part 13 being aligned to receive securing rivets 21 for securing the rail parts together. The lower end of the rail part 13 and the upper end of the rail part 14 are similarly connected by rivets 21. The rail parts 13 and 14 may be made from similar punch press parts, with the end of the rail part 13 trimmed, as indicated at 22 in order to conform to the overlapping relation of parts as will appear later.

The frame structure, including the side members 10 and 11 as described above, form a series of similar seats to receive awning slats 26, which have slightly arcuate central longitudinal portions 26a, and flat side edge portions 265 at the respective edges thereof. These slats 26 are adapted to be seated in a series of slat receiving recesses 27 formed along the upper edge of the side frame members or rails 10 and 1 1, these recesses 27 being formed between a series of similar ears 28, each ear 28 having a lower flat face 28a on one side substantially similar in width to the edge portion 26b of the cooperating slat 26, so that these flat portions engage with the edge portion of the slat. seated at the bottom of a notch 29 formed by the face 28a of ear 28 and the adjacent bottom 30 of the recess. On the opposite side of each ear 28, at its lower part, there is provided a flat portion 28b to receive the adjacent fiat portion 26b of the cooperating slat, with the edge of the slat again seated in a notch 31 formed at the lower end of the recess 27. Continuing from the flat edge portion 28b is a diverging portion 28c, the included angle between portions 28]) and 280 being greater than the angle between central portion 26a of edge portion 26b and the adjacent slat to provide clearance for flexing of the slat to be seated in the recess 27.

Seen in FIGURE 4, the location of the apertures 18 in the respective adjacent rail parts -13 and 12, is such that they cooperate to provide recess 27' similar in all respects to the recesses 27 formed along the rail part 12, for example. The flat formation of the side edge portions of the slats 26 cooperates with the flat surfaces of ears 28 to provide for secure retention of the slats in place without being liable to slip, either for accidental reasons or from the weather, such as the wind. Also it provides a maximum surface of contact so that injury to the finished surface of the slats is not apt to occur when they are being assembled by being snapped in place, one slat being shown in dotted lines in, FIG- URE 4 flexed and ready to be snapped into place. The ears 28 through their surfaces 28c provide a stop for movement of the slats 26 under Wind pressure. Also, it will be noted with reference to FIGURE 1 that the relationship of the slats 26 and the ears 28 provides a pleasing smooth line contour of the awning.

Means is provided at the outer edge of the awning in cooperation with the rail members to provide a finished and improved appearance of the awning structure as well as providing additional strength at this extended point of the awning structure and this means takes the place of an arcuate transverse cover member 32 having turned side edge portions 33 which are adapted to snap into cooperating notches 34 at the lower or outer end of the rail member 14.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent that the invention is capable of variation and modification from the form shown so that its scope should be limited only by the proper scope of the claims appended hereto.

1 claim:

1. In an awning structure of the type employing a plurality of substantially parallel slats supported on parallel rail supports that are provided with recesses for receiving the slats, the improvement comprising. providing awning slats with slightly arcuate body portions which are adapted to be flexed when the slats are inserted into the recesses in the rail supports, said slats also having flat side portions extending along the sides of said slightly arcuate body portions, said fiat side portions being bent downward with respect to said slightly arcuate body portion, the recesses in the rail supports each being arcuate in shape and each having a length substantially equal to the transverse dimension of said slats and the opposite ends of each of said recesses being defined by opposing overhanging cars which have flat surfaces gripping the upper fiat sides of the slats over the widths thereof, said fiat surfaces applying pressure to the slightly arcuate body portions of said slats thereby holding said slats spaced away from the bottoms of said recesses and arched thereover to prevent slippage thereof in said rail supports and also to prevent noisy vibration of said slats against said rails.

2. In an awning structure of the type employing a plurality of substantially parallel slats supported on parallel rail supports that are provided with recesses for receiving the slats, the improvement comprising providing awning slats with slightly arcuate body portions which are adapted to be flexed when the slats are inserted into the recesses in the rail supports, said slats also having flat side portions extending along the sides of said slightly arcuate body portions, said flat side portions being bent downward with respect to said slightly arcuate body portion, the recesses in the rail supports each being arcuate in shape and each having a length substantially equal to the transverse dimension of said slats, each of said rail supports being made up of at least two rail parts comprising an upper rail part and a lower rail part, means for joining said rail parts together, said lower rail part being tilted downward with respect to said upper rail part, the joined end portions of said rail parts overlapping a distance shorter than the length of one of said recesses and said joined end portions of said rail parts having one of said recesses extending thereover, the opposite ends of each of said recesses being defined by opposing overhanging ears which have fiat surfaces gripping the upper fiat sides of the slats over the widths thereof thereby holding said slats spaced away from the bottoms of said recesses and arched thereover to prevent slippage thereof in said rail supports and also to prevent noisy vibration thereof.

3. In an awning structure of the type employing a plurality of substantially parallel slats supported on parallel rail supports that are provided with recesses for receiving the slats, the improvement comprising providing awning slats with slightly arcuate body portions which are adapted to be flexed when the slats are inserted into the recesses in the rail supports, said slats also having flat side portions extending along the sides of said slightly arcuate body portions, said flat side portions being bent downward with respect to said slightly arcuate body portion, the recesses in the rail supports each being arcuate in shape and each having a length substantially equal to the transverse dimension of said slats, each of said rail supports being made up of at least two rail parts comprising an upper rail part and a lower rail part, having the adjacent overlapping parts thereof at least partially coextensive with end most slat receiving recesses, said overlapping parts being riveted together so that the arcuate bottoms of said end most recesses are aligned, said lower rail part being tilted downward with respect to said upper rail part, the opposite ends of each of said recesses being defined by opposing overhanging ears which have fiat surfaces gripping the upper flat sides of the slats over the widths thereof thereby holding said slats spaced away from the bottoms of said recesses and arched thereover to prevent slippage thereof in said rail supports.

4. In an awning structure of the type employing a plurality of substantially parallel slats supported on parallel rail supports that are provided with recesses for receiving the slats as set forth in claim 1, further characterised in that the end rail part of each of said rail supports is provided at its outer end with a pair of opposed notches, one of said pair of notches being on the top side of the end rail part and the other being on the bottom and an end slat having a body portion of substantially semi-circular cross-section and having substantially fiat side portions, one extending inwardly along each side of said body portion, said substantially semicircular body portion being resilient and exerting pressure on said inwardly extending side portions pressing these into said opposed notches for holding said end slat on the ends of the end rail parts and substantially enclosing said ends.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

